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Researchers from the University of Cambridge suggest that dyslexia should be defined as a strength rather than a disability.
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The neurological condition is associated with “increased abilities” in areas such as discovery, invention, and creativity.
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Researchers say these skills are important for helping humans adapt to changing environments.
Dyslexia is commonly described as a brain disorder or learning difficulty. But new research shows that dyslexia is actually an important tool that has helped humanity adapt.
What is dyslexia?
What does the new dyslexia research say?
in the magazine Frontiers in PsychologyResearchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK argue that dyslexia should not be framed as a disorder.
They find that people with dyslexia actually have “increased abilities” in certain areas, including discovery, invention, and creativity.
“We urgently need to develop this kind of thinking to allow humanity to continue to adapt and address major challenges,” said lead author, Taylor.
What were the findings?
The researchers concluded that people with are experts in dyslexia exploration and curiosity. This ‘exploratory bias’, as they describe it, plays a “critical role” in human existence by helping us to adapt to changing environments.
Inventiveness and big-picture, long-term thinking are among the skills and strengths associated with these exploratory behaviors.
What does other dyslexia research say?
A growing movement and body of research supports the redefinition of dyslexia as a strength rather than a weakness.
value of dyslexiaA report by professional services firm EY and Made by Dyslexia, Redefining Dyslexia, argues that dyslexic strengths can help employers navigate the changing world of work.
The authors state that dyslexic people may show ‘strong’, ‘very strong’ and ‘extraordinary’ performance in a range of “cognitive abilities, systems skills, complex problem-solving skills, content skills, process skills and technical skills”.
People with dyslexia have strengths that are increasingly in demand.
Professional astrophysicists with and without dyslexia were tested for their ability to spot a particular feature in black holes.
“Scientists with dyslexia … were better able to pick out black holes from noise, which was useful throughout their careers,” dyslexic astrophysicist Matthew H. Schnepps said in an article for the journal. scientific American,
Which famous people have dyslexia?
British dyslexia charity Helen Arkel has listed a host of famous dyslexics of the past and present, including physicist Albert Einstein, artists Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, film directors Steven Spielberg and John Lennon.
Three US presidents were also considered dyslexic – John F. Kennedy, George Washington and George W. Bush.